School Budget Shows a 4.14 Percent Increase, Grant Approved for the Peaslee School

The school committee accepted the FY12 recommended budget of $18,683,456, presented by Superintendent Charles Gobron on Wednesday evening. This budget is a 4.14 percent increase over the FY11 budget.

"I am very happy to report that this budget aligns with our goals this year, I think, more than ever," Gobron said.

This is the second year that the budget has been level funded in the majority of administrative, instructional, maintenance and supply accounts, and Gobron noted that his office is working hard to closely monitor the FY11 budget, limiting spending to essential items only.

"I feel that the recommended budget,"Gobron said, " though less than a level services budget, conservatively meets the needs of the Northborough Public School."

There is some concern over what Gobron names funding cliffs due to the use of one -time Edu-job federal dollars, the use of ARRA funds for technology, instructional materials and supplies as well as pre-purchases from the FY11 budget.

"Class sizes in the majority of grades are in line with the School Committee Policy," Gobron said.

School Committee member Susan Sartori added, "Along with class size, I think we also need to talk seriously about how we are going to retain the very fine professionals that work in this district."

The budget will now go to Town Meeting later this spring for public approval.

In other business, the committee approved acceptance of a $3,000 grant for the Zeh School to recieve a Great American Salad Bar, and they accepted the request for the nature's classroom trip to continue at the Peaslee School this spring.

"Almost every fifth grader is planning to attend, "Principal of Peaslee Scott Bazydlo said. "In-school programming will be offered to the children not attending the trip. While a true outdoor experience cannot be replicated, the team has put together creative science materials that attack similar concepts."

Gobron also stated that the Melican Green Repair Program is moving forward expeditiously and seems to be on schedule for completion at the end of the year.

The Green Repair Program will use Massachusetts School Building Authority funds to install new windows and a boiler at the Melican Middle School. The state will return 48.68 percent on the $1.2 million project.

Ultimately the Green Repair Program hopes to offer both energy savings and budget savings for the schools. The hope is that this program will be complete by March 30,2012.

"Please continue to be in conversation about the possibility of an extension as I do fear we will not be able to get it done in time," Sartori said.